TESDA, Private Sector to Continue Empowering Filipinos amid Pandemic

Taguig City — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the private sector vowed to continue the reskilling and upskilling of Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

TESDA, last March 26, forged Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Pilmico Foods Corporation (PILMICO), and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) to provide skills training to Filipinos.

TESDA Secretary Secretary Isidro Lapeña and PILMICO President and CEO Tristan Roberto Aboitiz signed a MOA which aims to establish partnership between the two partiesto conduct series of live webinars related to baking and cooking programs.

TESDA likewise partnered with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) through a MOA signed by Lapeña and PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiniones, Jr. The partnership aims to improve human capital through industry-based learning and skills development.

Meanwhile, Lapeña also led the virtual signing of the Right of Usufruct with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). The arrangement allows TESDA to use LLDA’s 2-hectare lot on which TESDA-LLDA Provincial Training Center (PTC) now stands.

It will also be the site of the TESDA Region 4-A Office which will provide training and livelihood opportunities for the fisherfolk and other stakeholders in the region.

In his speech, Lapeña assured that TESDA is doing its best to adjust its programs and services to adapt to the challenges brought by Covid-19 pandemic.

He likewise expressed his gratitude to PILMICO, PSFI, and LLDA saying that these partnerships are align with TESDA’s guiding principle, “TESDA, Abot Lahat.”

“Through proactive participation of several industries, socio-civic organizations and other government sectors, we stronglybelieve that we will be able to hurdle these obstacles,” he said.

Deputy Director General for TESD Operations Lina Sarmiento and Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages AnicetoBertiz III witnessed the signing.

Since the onset of the pandemic, TESDA has been active in providing training for Filipinos especially Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were affected by the pandemic.

TESDA has launched several initiatives such as developing and offering a contacttracing training program, enhanced TESDAOnline Program (TOP),and establishment of OFW desks in every TESDA Provincial and Regional Office among others.